Please see the media release and backgrounder for more information on the newest Better at Home sites and service providers across British Columbia.

“One of the things I have heard from B.C. seniors as I have travelled throughout the province, is their desire to live at home, among family and friends, for as long as possible,” said Minister of State for Seniors Ralph Sultan. “As a senior myself, I know that a little help around the house can make life easier, and the Better at Home program reflects our commitment to support seniors’ independence by helping them to live in the community of their choice where they can continue to engage with neighbours and friends.”

A partnership between the government of B.C. and United Way of the Lower Mainland, the Better at Home program is designed to help seniors with day-to-day tasks to help them live independently and remain connected to the community. Services and service providers are selected through a community engagement process that includes seniors.

“The Better at Home program has been developed with the specific needs of seniors in each community in mind,” said Parksville-Qualicum MLA Ron Cantelon. “For many seniors, assistance with simple tasks such as getting to appointments or tidying up around the house can provide the support they need to remain independent in their own homes.”

Seniors may be asked to pay a small fee for services based on their income. The Better at Home program complements existing home support services such as assistance with personal hygiene or medical needs, which are provided through regional health authorities.

“Parksville is home to a growing population of seniors, and we are pleased to be part of the Better at Home program,” said Renate Sutherland, executive director of the Society of Organized Services. “We look forward to supporting local seniors by offering services that help them to live independent, healthy and productive lives.”

For access to an interactive map, which provides a full listing of communities and information on how seniors can access services, please visit our Communities section.

Photo: from L to R: Renate Sutherland, Executive Director, Society of Organized Services (SOS); Ron Cantelon, Parksville-Qualicum MLA; Edith Chamberlayne, local senior and SOS founding member; Ralph Sultan, Minister of State for Seniors; Deborah Irvine, United Way of the Lower Mainland Chief Operating Officer

Community consultations have now been completed in all the communities identified as potential hosts for Better at Home programs!

Thank you for sharing your thoughts, information and feedback during these consultations, increasing awareness to the efforts of Better at Home; we appreciate your participation in the Better at Home community processes to help seniors live in their own homes longer.

Community reports, which were written by contracted community developers in each community, can be found in the Resources section.

If you have any questions regarding Better at Home, please contact Provincial Program Manager Kahir Lalji at kahirl@betterathome.ca.

New sites have been announced that may eventually host a Better at Home program. In each of these communities, Community Developers will engage in a community consultation process. If you are interested in conducting community development work with the Better at Home project, please see the Requests for Proposal below.

As the RFPs become available, they will be added as linkable documents below. Please click on the link at each site and this will take you to a PDF document of the relevant Request for Proposal.

Note: If the site you are interested in does not yet have a link, please check again soon.

Anticipated funding in October 2013

• Ashcroft/Logan Lake/Cache Creek (This position is being filled through a partnership with Thompson, Nicola, Cariboo United Way)
• Chilliwack (Applications closed)
• Comox (Applications closed)
• Delta (Applications closed)
• Hope (Applications closed)
• Mission (Applications closed)
• Saanich (This position is being filled through a partnership with the United Way of Greater Victoria)
• Salmon Arm (This position is being filled through a partnership with United Way of North Okanagan Columbia Shuswap)
• Terrace/Kitimat (Applications closed)
• Vancouver (Mount Pleasant) (Applications closed)
• Anticipated funding in January 2014
• Burnaby (2 locations) (Applications closed)
• Campbell River (This position is being filled through a partnership with the United Way Central and Northern Vancouver Island)
• Castlegar (Applications closed)
• Central Okanagan including Kelowna (This position is being filled through a partnership with the United Way of the Central and South Okanagan/Similkameen)
• Courtenay (Applications closed)
• Fort Langley/Aldergrove
• Nanaimo (This position is being filled through a partnership with the United Way Central and Northern Vancouver Island)
• Pemberton/Whistler/Mount Currie (Applications closed)
• Port Alberni (This position is being filled through a partnership with the United Way Central and Northern Vancouver Island)
• Powell River (Applications closed)
• Prince George (This position is being filled through a partnership with the United Way of Northern BC)
• Sto:lo Nation (Applications closed)
• Vancouver (Hastings) (Applications closed)
• Vancouver (Kerrisdale Oakridge) (Applications closed)
• Vancouver (Kitsilano) (Applications closed)
• Vancouver (South) (Applications closed)
• Vernon (This position is being filled through a partnership with the United Way of North Okanagan Columbia Shuswap)
• Victoria (This position is being filled through a partnership with the United Way of Greater Victoria)

See here for a list of previously announced sites that are undergoing or have completed community consultation processes. You are also invited to peruse completed Better at Home Community Developer reports.

Thank you for your interest in community development work for the Better at Home project.